P3 / REAP Benefits

from USDA Rural Grant Program

P4 / Resource Spotlight:

EDAWN

P5 / News You Can Use

P6 / Entrepreneurship +

Innovation

This past year, Nevada joined a handful of states in pass-

ing legislation on blockchain technology. Introduced by

State Senator Ben Kieckhefer during the 79th Nevada Leg-

islature, Senate Bill 398 did three things. First, it defined

“blockchain” for purposes of the Nevada Uniform Elec-

tronic Transactions Act (Chapter 719 of the Nevada

Revised Statutes). Second, it recognized blockchain as a

type of electronic record, which means that a record

stored in a blockchain can be used as evidence in state

and local courts. Third, it restricted local governments

from imposing taxes, fees, licenses, permits or any other

requirement on the use of blockchain, making Nevada

the first state to take pre-emptive action of this kind.

Passed unanimously by the Nevada Assembly and Senate,

SB 398 was signed into law by Governor Sandoval on

June 5, 2017. The new law places Nevada in the vanguard

of states trying to leverage the many business opportuni-

ties that blockchain technology poses for the future. But

what is blockchain technology? How can it benefit

businesses or Nevada?

When most people hear the word “blockchain,” they think

of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies – situations where

people have used computers to produce virtual tokens

that are then treated as a medium of exchange like cash.

These tokens (or cryptocurrencies) are a byproduct of

how blockchains work using specialized software and

cryptography, but they are more a sideshow to the real

impact that blockchain technology will have in the future.

According to digitaltrends.com writer Jon Martindale,

blockchain is effectively a distributed ledger that is vali-

dated by a community of users, rather than a central au-

thority like a bank or government which hosts data on a

particular server. Each “block” represents a number of

transactional records, and the “chain” component links

them all together with a hash function. As records are

created, they are validatd or confirmed by a distributed

network of computers and paired up with the previous

entry in the chain, thereby creating a chain of blocks, or a

blockchain. This structure means that the entire history

of the transaction is retained on a large network of com-

puters, and no one individual has control over its history.

It makes the blockchain a public ledger that cannot be

easily tampered with, giving it a built-in layer of protec-

tion that isn’t possible with a standard, centralized data-

base of information.

Many of the world’s largest banks are now involved in

blockchain development because they need faster,

cheaper and more secure ways to transfer funds and

handle financial transactions around the globe. But block-

chain’s potential goes beyond the movement and track-

ing of money. It includes almost any type of transactional

process where one needs highly secure, verifiable and

trackable chains-of-custody – think about title transfers,

contracts, supply-chain management, the stock market,

real estate transactions, healthcare, you name it.

In an age where geographic distance, language barriers,

record requirements, and other variables can routinely

slow down or impede our ability to exchange information

Blockchain Buzz:

Nevada Rolls Out the

Welcome Mat for Innovation

(Continued )

Q: What is the Tax Credit & Jobs Act, and how can I claim a 12.5% - 25% Tax Credit for employees out on leave? A: The Tax Credit & Jobs Act passed in December 2017 provides any employer with the ability to claim a 12.5% - 25% tax credit on qualifying paid family and medical leaves. Effec-tive for wages paid beginning January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019, this 2-year pilot program is available to companies that meet the criteria outlined below. It’s important to note that employers don’t need to be subject to FMLA to claim this tax credit.

Employers meet eligibility by having a clear, written policy that allows all qualifying full-time employees at least two weeks of annual paid family and medical leave, and provides part-time employees leave on a pro-rata basis.

Qualifying full-time and part-time employees must be employed for at least 12 months and have earned less than $72,000 in the preceding year. While FMLA qualifying leaves for up to 12-weeks per 12-month period are included, vacation, personal leaves, or other non-FMLA qualifying medical or sick leaves, paid leaves required by state or local law are not. This is a great opportunity for Nevada employers as this is not available in all states. Q: How is the Tax Credit calculated? A: If the rate of payment under your program is 50% of nor-mal wages, the credit is equal to 12.5% of the amount of wages paid to qualifying employees. The Tax Credit increases on a sliding scale up to 25% for each percentage point above 50% of wages.

Q: What things should I consider? A: Here are a few things to keep in mind: 1) Review your company’s existing paid leave policy and verify

that leave reasons qualify under FMLA. 2) Only include employees with at least 12 months of service. 3) Include leave wages paid up to 12 weeks in a 12-month pe-

riod for employees who earned up to $72,000 the preced-ing year.

4) Assess 2017 to forecast 2018. 5) Remember this is a 2-year pilot program, so act now.

Disclaimer: Consult your legal and/or financial advisors before taking any action.

Have a question for one of our guest experts?

Email cfoley@business.nv.gov. 2

PPI Business Services 800-2Payroll, (702) 966-2415 www.ppibusinessservices.com abunker@payrollpeople.com

or assets, blockchain technology offers a virtual way to

eliminate these issues, while improving the speed, secu-

rity and transparency of each exchange. This is its true

power to help business.

Nevada’s early adoption of a policy framework on block-

chain has already yielded benefits to the state. This past

January, the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center announced

the sale of 64,000 acres of its industrial park to Block-

chains LLC, a California blockchain technology company

that plans to relocate its operations there. In joining

such nameplate companies as Tesla, Google and Switch

at the TRIC, the move by Blockchains LLC underscores

the fact that blockchain technology is on a par with oth-

er advanced tech initiatives such as the Tesla Gigafacto-

ry, Google’s autonomous vehicle research, and Switch’s

Tier 5® Platinum data centers in helping to shape our

state’s technology future.

By defining blockchain in state law and eliminating re-

quirements on its use, Nevada has signaled its readiness

and willingness to help advance the role of blockchain

technology in business. Recognition and acceptance of

blockchain is one more example of how our state is

working to grow business, diversify the economy, and

encourage advanced technology firms to call Nevada

home.

(Continued from page 1)

Blockchain Buzz

Division of Industrial Relations

Relocating to NSBC in May

The Division of Industrial Relations is relocating its offices to the Nevada State Business Center, at 3360 W. Sahara Ave-nue. The physical move will take place beginning at the close of business May 11 through May 15. Normal business opera-tions will resume at the new location at 8:00 am on May 16.

Local emergency services will be available via telephone, however, all other services will be unavailable at the Las Ve-gas offices during that time. Constituents are encouraged to conduct their business prior to the move, or contact the northern Nevada offices for assistance.

For more information including contact information for northern Nevada offices, parking instructions and more, visit http://dir.nv.gov.

Rurals REAP the Benefits of USDA Grants and Loan Guarantees

Seldom does a week goes by in the Director’s Office of the De-

partment of Business and Industry without receiving a call re-

garding business financing and grants. Few people know that

the United States Department of Agriculture and Rural Devel-

opment (USDA) offers loan guarantees and grants to support

business development in rural areas. These programs support

almost all categories of rural

small business, not just those

related to agriculture.

The two USDA programs

providing funding support to

small businesses include the

Rural Energy for America Pro-

gram (REAP) and the USDA

Business & Industry Loan

guarantees (not to be con-

fused with the State of Neva-

da Department of Business &

Industry).

Who can access these program?

Almost any business project in an area or town with a pop-

ulation of less than 50,000 (certain limitations apply)

Businesses must meet the SBA criteria for a small business

The business entity and lender may be located in non-rural

areas as long as the project is in the rural area

Some additional funding may be available in underserved

urban areas through the “Local Regional Food System Initi-

ative”

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)- Grants and Loan

Guarantees

The REAP program aims to encourage American energy inde-

pendence by helping small rural businesses increase supply of

renewable energy and decrease demand for energy through

grants and loan guarantees.

There are two categories of grant funding available under the

REAP program: energy efficiency grants and renewable energy

systems grants. Up to 25 percent of the total project costs for

both categories can be paid by a grant.

Examples of eligible energy efficiency improvements include

HVAC, LED lighting, insulation, doors and window improve-

ments, and replacement of energy-inefficient equipment. Grant

amounts range from $1,500 to a maximum of $250,000, mean-

ing the maximum total improvement cost can be up to $1 mil-

lion.

Examples of renewable energy systems eligible for grant fund-

ing include solar, wind, hydrogen, and geothermal, to name a

few. These grants range from $2,500 to $500,000 maximum.

In addition, through the loan guarantee program, the USDA will

guarantee up to 75 percent of the eligible project costs. REAP

grants and loan guarantee can be combined to maximize the

benefit to the business and their ability to make these improve-

ments or additions.

One final aspect of the grant program is that the USDA partners

with qualified energy professionals, such as Nevada Industry

Excellence wherein 75 percent of an energy audit, which is re-

quired for energy efficiency pro-

jects is covered by a grant.

One business soon to receive ben-

efit through the REAP program is a

resort in Mesquite, Nevada. Alt-

hough this location is often con-

sidered urban due to proximity to

the Las Vegas major metropolitan

area, for the USDA program, the

Rising Star Sports Ranch Resort

qualifies because the local area’s

population is less than 50,000.

"The Nevada Industry Excellence team have been helpful part-

ners so far as we seek to utilize the REAP grant to save 25 per-

cent on more energy-efficient exterior lighting and boilers for

our resort in Mesquite,” said Alexander Koch, Rising Star’s Cor-

porate Director of Operations and Development. “The USDA

has been wonderful to work with as well, educating us in how

the grant process works."

Although the deadline for 2018 REAP grants is April 30, the

USDA has turned this into a year around program and contin-

ues to facilitate and accept applications.

Business & Industry Loan Guarantee Program

The USDA Business & Industry Loan guarantee program sup-

ports business development in rural areas by increasing access

to capital through commercial lenders by providing loan guar-

antees of up to 80 percent of project costs with a maximum of

$25 million. Examples of eligible projects include business mod-

ernization, purchase and development of land, purchase of ma-

chinery or equipment, debt refinancing to improve cash flow,

and business acquisitions. These loans can be collateralized

through real estate, equipment, inventory, and even accounts

receivable, and the loan guarantees are available to organiza-

tions including for profit, nonprofit, cooperatives, Native Ameri-

can tribes, public bodies and individuals.

To find out more about these programs in southern Nevada,

contact Laura Chavez at the USDA Nevada office (775) 887-

1222 Ext. 4764, laura.chavez@nv.usda.gov, or in northern Ne-

vada, contact Michelle Kellyat (775) 887-1222 Ext. 4756

michelle.kelly@nv.usda.gov or visit www.rd.usda.gov under the

“Programs & Services” tab.

3

Resource Organization Spotlight: EDAWN

4

The Economic Development Authority of

Western Nevada (EDAWN) is a non-profit, pri-

vate/public partnership established in 1983,

committed to adding quality jobs to the re-

gion by recruiting new primary companies, supporting the suc-

cess of existing primary companies, and assisting newly forming

companies. EDAWN is largely funded by individual investors, but

also receives some support from local and state governments.

EDAWN’s efforts are concentrated on Business Development,

Retention-Expansion-Workforce Development, and Entrepre-

neurship.

EDAWN’s Business Development Team focuses on Attracting Quality Companies with High Paying Jobs to the Greater

Reno-Sparks region. They accomplish this objective by proactively seeking out companies in other states and by collaborat-

ing with Site Consultants, Brokers, EDAWN Board Members, Investors and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development

(GOED). Results are measured by metrics such as job creation, salary levels, prospect visits and closure rates. The number of

assisted jobs reported by EDAWN has quadrupled in the last 5 years from 840 a year to over 3,300 last year.

The team hosts prospects on regular site visits to the region to familiarize them with the advantages of relocating their busi-

ness to the region and to show them potential properties in conjunction with the real estate brokers. These visits are an op-

portunity to introduce the prospects to the “new” Reno-Sparks and help them connect with the many agencies and EDAWN

partners in the region.

The Business Retention and Expansion program, reinforces the Business Development Team efforts by providing the

“service after the sale” to companies that do relocate. They become a resource for the company to address any issue that

develops as the company gets their operations up and running. The team also strengthens relationships with primary compa-

nies in the region in order to provide ongoing support for the retention and growth of new jobs. The team visits over 125

primary companies each year and maintains a publicly accessible database of primary companies in the region. During the

visits, they identify and help to resolve issues, look for opportunities to make business to business connections, and educate

companies about the resources and programs available to them. Information is also provided to new and existing companies

via the Existing Business Section of the EDAWN website (http://edawn.org/existing-business/) which contains a variety of

tools including the Employer Workforce Resource Guide.

EDAWN’s Workforce Development Program, a subset of the Business retention program, is built around four key strate-

gies: Connect, Train, Retain and Attract. The goal is to connect employers with job seekers, connect employers with educa-

tion, and connect resources with each other. The team also supports training of the local workforce to fill the region’s job

demand, supports companies’ efforts to retain existing workforce, and attracts workforce from outside the region to fill criti-

cal roles. In addition, they promote internship and apprenticeship programs, promote STEM education at all levels, and pro-

mote other strategies to develop workers’ skills.

The main purpose of the Entrepreneurial Development program is to foster the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in

support of start-ups and entrepreneurial job creation. The team accomplishes this by attracting early stage technology com-

panies and startups to the region and by assisting in the acquisition of capital for these companies. The team also works with

community partners to support entrepreneurs and to lead community initiatives like 1 Million Cups, and Summit VMS, a pro-

gram that matches entrepreneurs with a team of volunteer mentors to provide guidance and support.

One example of EDAWN in action is the growth of technology company Bombora. The company, co-founded in Manhattan

by Rob Armstrong in 2014, is a startup in the AdTech sector providing B2B demographic and intent data for marketers world-

wide. “With plenty of qualified and talented individuals, Reno offers a diverse labor market and we’re getting three

times more inbound job requests to join our tech team here than we did in New York,” said Armstrong. When Bombora came

to Reno in 2016, they occupied four desks within the Reno Collective and are now thirty-five strong and planning to grow to

50 employees in 2018.

EDAWN’s efforts to grow and diversify the regional economy have been very successful over the past 5 years, due in large

part to the support of our investors and the engagement and participation of our many partners.

Visit www.edawn.org for more information

News You Can Use

5

Nevada’s Minimum Wage Remains Unchanged for 2018

Nevada’s Constitution requires the minimum wage to be recalculated each

year and adjusted made based on increases in the federal minimum wage, or if

greater, by the cumulative increase in the cost of living. Once calculated, the

Office of the Nevada Labor Commissioner is required to issue a bulletin an-

nouncing the minimum wage by April 1 which takes effect July 1 of that year.

Under Nevada’s unique two-tiered system, the minimum wage for employees

who are offered qualified health benefits from their employers will remain at $7.25 per hour, and the minimum

wage for employees who are not offered qualified health benefits will remain at $8.25 per hour. The last time the

minimum wage increased in Nevada was in 2009, a direct result of legislation in 2006 which indexed Nevada’s wage

to inflation beginning in 2008. For more information, visit http://labor.nv.gov.

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Program to Expedite Pay-

ments to Workers

A nation-wide pilot of the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) pro-

gram has been launched. The program is meant to facilitate resolution of

potential overtime and minimum wage violations, improve employers’ compli-

ance with their wage obligations and ensure more employees receive back

wages they are owed faster.

Under the PAID program, employers are encouraged to conduct audits and, if

they discover overtime or minimum wage violations, to self-report these viola-

tions. Employers may then work in good faith with the Department’s Wage and

Hour Division to correct their mistakes and provide back wages due to their

affected employees. No penalties or liquidate damages will be imposed on vol-

untary program participants. The Division encourages employers to proactively audit their compensation practices

to identify potential non-complaint practices. For more information about the program, visit www.dol.gov/whd/

paid.

National Safety Stand-Down for Fall Protection May 7-11

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of

death for construction employees, accounting for 370 of the 991 construction

fatalities in 2016 recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All of these deaths

were preventable.

A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to em-

ployees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break

to focus on "fall hazards" and reinforcing the importance of "fall prevention."

Employers of companies not exposed to fall hazards can also use this oppor-

tunity to have a conversation with employees about the other job hazards they

face, protective methods, and the company's safety policies and goals. It can also be an opportunity for employees

to talk to management about fall and other job hazards they see.

Companies can conduct a Safety Stand-Down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity

such as conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans, or discussing job specific hazards. Man-

agers are encouraged to plan a stand-down that works best for their workplace anytime May 7-11, 2018. For more

information or assistance with hosting an event at your location, contact Nevada’s Safety Consultation and Training

Section (SCATS) at 877-472-3368 or visit http://4safenv.state.nv.us.

6

Entrepreneurship + Innovation: A Minute with Marcel

The proposition of starting and growing a business is truly AWE-INSPIRING. Those of us who have been lucky enough to

have taken this giant step know the never-ending cycle of planning, researching, marketing, creating, executing and get-

ting help. So, in this edition I am sharing a two-pronged ap-

proach to make every day count, keep your passion alive, and

put your ideas into practice.

1. Follow these tips to grow your business:

The following are great ideas and tips to stay motivated and

passionate when developing a successful business. The article

on 10 Ways to Stay Inspired and Grow Your Small Business by

Annie Pilon (published by Small Business Trends) is practical

and useful. Simply click on the links and discover awe-inspiring

examples to let your imagination loose and connect the dots

in innovative ways. Then pick a couple of them and just get

rolling.

Get Inspired by these Women-Owned Businesses – Check out some of the big names to get a quick dose of inspiration.

https://blog.aboutamazon.com/small-business/7-women-owned-businesses-to-watch

Check Out this Profile in Women’s Business Leadership - Insights about the general business landscape for female entre-

preneurs. www.biz2credit.com/blog/2018/03/07/she-means-business-profiles-in-womens-business-leadership-jaime-clifford-

owner-optimal-wellness-video/

Build a Disruptive Startup with these Mindset Elements – Some important mindset elements you will need if you want to

start a business that’s truly unique and disruptive. https://blog.startupprofessionals.com/2018/03/6-mindset-elements-

required-for.html

Take these Steps to Create a Healthier Workplace – No matter what type of business you run, creating healthy habits for

you and your entire team is a must. https://blog.corpnet.com/7-steps-to-a-healthier-workplace/

Pick the Best Domain Name for Your Business - A domain name for your business’s website can serve as sort of a first im-

pression for customers and make it easy for customers to do business with you again and again. www.bizpenguin.com/3-

solid-reasons-domain-name-matters-pick-best-one-5192/

Learn These Important Social Media Terms - If you’re going to use social media to market your business online, it’s im-

portant to understand the lingo. www.susansolovic.com/2018/03/back-to-basics-common-social-media-terms-you-need-to-

know/

Consider the Best Email Apps for iPhone - Pretty much every modern entrepreneur is able to access their email on a phone

or mobile device. There are tons of different apps available to give you that access. www.process.st/best-email-app-for-

iphone/

Learn How to Deal with a Bully at Work - No matter where you work or what kind of business you’re in, you might find

yourself in such a situation with a partner, client or competitor. https://corporatecoachgroup.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-a-

bully-at-work

Boost Your Small Business Marketing with Illustrations - If you’re looking for a way to make your visual marketing con-

tent really stand out, you might consider going a little old school with some custom illustrations. www.crowdspring.com/

blog/illustrations-marketing/

Overcome Obstacles when Using Social Media Globally - Social media offers marketers a unique opportunity but there

are some challenges that go along with growing globally quickly. https://socialmediahq.com/overcoming-the-obstacles-

when-doing-social-media-globally/

By Marcel F. Schaerer, Deputy Director, Department of Business and Industry

(Continued)

A CCE S S A B IL IT Y

2. Participate in CHALLENGE smallbusinessNevada today!

Tips and ideas

to successfully

run a business

are indeed very

useful and inspiring, but often we wonder how to put ideas

into practice and move our business beyond its current state.

Here is what you need to know: Nevada has a vast amount of

federal, state and local resources available for FREE to help

you start and grow your business.

In conjunction with National Small Business Week (April 29 –

May 5, 2018), the Nevada SBA District Office has partnered

with the Nevada Department of Business and Industry to

challenge existing and prospective small business owners

across the state to learn more about the various agencies,

chambers of commerce and professional service organiza-

tions that provide education and training, business develop-

ment, and procurement opportunities to Nevada small busi-

nesses. Take a minute to discover what these groups have to

offer, get involved, and see how they can help you achieve

your full business potential.

The CHALLENGE is a simple call to action. Go to http://

business.nv.gov to download and complete the Challenge

form, identifying an area where you or your business could

benefit from additional help or information. Return the form

to the SBA Nevada District Office and they will send you a

short list of Nevada-based resources or specialists that offer

help in the area of interest, as well as general resource con-

tacts to help you in the future.

7

Inaugural Shining Star Award

Presented to Charvez Foger

Director C.J. Manthe presented Charvez Foger, Real Estate Divi-sion’s Common Interest Com-munities Ombudsman with the inaugural Shining Star Award. The award recognizes a Depart-ment of Business and Industry employee each quarter who exemplifies Service, Teamwork, Achievement, and Reliability and Dependability.

“The outstanding work that state employees do every day on behalf of our constituents too often goes unrecognized and unacknowledged,” said Manthe. “This award program was created to recognize the outstanding performance and contributions of Department of Business and Industry employees and salute their efforts to serve the people of Nevada.”

Charvez joined the Nevada Real Estate Division team in Febru-ary 2017. His wide-ranging experience with federal govern-ment administration, local and state law enforcement and private industry has been a tremendous asset to the Division. He quickly established positive relationships with licensees, constituents, commissioners. Under his leadership and direc-tion, a pilot program has been established to educate and help communities run proper elections, the education section has been revived, and education and outreach in rural com-munities has increased.

(Continued)

Minute with Marcel (Continued from page 6)

The Business Advocate is a free publication of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry. The Business Advocate welcomes ideas and suggestions. Questions or concerns about content of this publication may be addressed to: Teri Williams, Department of Business and Industry, 3300 W. Sahara Ave-nue, Suite 425, Las Vegas, NV 89102.

Subscription requests can be made to: twilliams@business.nv.gov

C.J. Manthe , Director

Terry Reynolds , Deputy Director

Marcel F. Schaerer, Deputy Director

Constituent and community relations have been the cornerstone of Charvez's career and he has brought a customer-first focus to the Real Estate Division. With the input and assistance from his staff, he has streamlined constituent inquiry pro-cesses and restructured staff duties to provide more responsive customer service. In addition to constituent services, he has also focused on staff recruitment and training, including bringing in industry experts to train staff and developing other op-portunities that will benefit the section's investigators, mediators and educators.

"Charvez is the embodiment of a natural leader," said Sharath Chandra, Real Estate Division Administrator. "Whether you're talking about his performance on the football field as a four year first-team all-conference player and University of Nevada Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, or as the CIC Ombudsman, he truly exemplifies service, teamwork, achievement and reliabil-ity. I'm pleased to have him on the Real Estate Division team and look forward to working with him as he continues to raise the bar for the operation and services of the Ombudsman's office."

3300 W. Sahara Avenue, Suite 425, Las Vegas, NV 89102

1830 College Parkway, Suite 100, Carson City, NV 89706

biinfo@business.nv.gov

Production Team Carrie Foley, Program Officer

Karen Schnog, Management Analyst

Chris Weiss, Management Analyst

Teri Williams, Public Information Officer

8

Shining Star Award (Continued from page 7)